Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois is set to be unavailable for another four to six weeks after suffering a meniscus tear in his right knee in training on Tuesday, sources have told ESPN.
Belgium international Courtois, 31, was on the brink of a return to the team after an ACL tear in his left knee last August required surgery, causing him to miss all of the 2023-24 season so far.
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Courtois had been expected to return to action next month at a crucial stage of the campaign, with Madrid top of LaLiga and set to face Manchester City in the Champions League quarterfinals.
“Following tests carried out today, Thibaut Courtois has been diagnosed with a ruptured internal meniscus in his right knee,” Madrid said in a statement on Tuesday. “The injury occurred during today’s training session. The injury will be monitored.”
Sources told ESPN that Courtois left Tuesday’s training session in tears and visibly affected by what had happened.
He had progressively returned to training with teammates in recent weeks, with coach Carlo Ancelotti this weekend that he was expected to be available in April, with Madrid playing City in the first leg of their quarterfinal on April 9 at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Both the club and Courtois are now reluctant to speculate about a new recovery time for this latest injury, but sources said that the most likely outcome is that the goalkeeper does not play again this season.